by Jennifer M Scott

Created on: October 31, 2007

EXPEDITION TO MAYNAR
The sun fell slowly into the horizon. A color of deep crimson dominated the sky. Tazmin decided to continue only a little further to Donekette. She and Ravel were leading a group of settlers to Maynar, a new claim of the king. Donekette was over the hill.
"Tazmin, look at the sky," Ravel remarked.
"Aye. You know what they say?" she said slowing her steed.

"Blood will be spilt," he replied.
"Not on my watch," she replied.
They arrived in Donekette once the sun sunk into the blanket of crimson and star light. Something bothered Tazmin about Donekette; no one was there. Of course it has been a good ten years since she last visited Donekette.
They steady rhythm of the settlers' horses and wagons halted, waiting for Tazmin's directives. She dismounted and Ravel followed. Opening a door to one home, there was nothing except a neat little home, dishes still place and the firewood neatly stacked. The leaders looked in a few more homes.
"It's up to you, love," said Ravel.
She stood on some boxes, "okay people, we are staying here tonight in these houses." The people cheered because they had a real house to sleep in.
Tazmin and Ravel bunked together. The night was warm; children played in the street. Tazmin sat on the porch and noticed the full moon turn red, hints of crimson hung in the sky from the sunset. Ravel joined her; bringing some Mandrya elixir.
"Weird isn't it? The moon," Tazmin said.
"I don't have a good feeling about this," he said.
"Ravel, stop believing in superstitions for once. Maybe if you'd work harder and read less you won't worry so much."
"Okay Tazmin, I won't talk about it," he replied.
Tazmin wondered what happened to Donekette. She remembered it to be a bustling artisan village. In fact while on a scouting expedition, she met, fell in love, and became a woman with a painter, Jerriah. She smiled at the thought of Jerriah and wondered what ever happened to him.
A buzzing of what sounded like a thousand bees brought Tazmin's mind back to the present. She heard shrieks and people ran.
"What the hell?" Tazmin exclaimed and leapt off the porch. The moon turned black, buzzing filled the air. Tazmin tripped over a woman; her skin taught against her skeleton. She bent down and picked up a winged creature. It was a pixie. Blood covered her tiny little face. The pixie opened her mouth; fangs appeared and bit on Tazmin's finger. She shook the pixie off.
"Ravel, get the people together in the town hall," she screamed above the buzzing.

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